There are four conditions for "Traditional Statehood." The first, a permant population, second a defined territory, third a government that has control over its population, and finally a capacity to enter into foreign relations. Question 2D asks, did the P.L.O. satisfy these conditions?.
In 1919 Palestine was provisionally recognized as an Independent state by the League of Nations, as well as the 1922 Mandate by Great Britain. In 1947, UN general resolution 181 [II], called for the partition of Palestine and Israel. The Israeli government gave the Palestinian people the area known as Palestine, but still as a part of Israel. So did they have a defined territory? Yes, but Israel still made claim to them, as any country would when loosing territory. And for there permant population, yes. This was the reason for the UN mandated partition and the Israeli government giving them the territory. In 1974 the P.L.O. was invited to participate in the UN general assembly debate on the Palestine question. UN general assembly adopted Res. 43/177 in Dec. 1988, whereby it recognized the new state of Palestine by according observer- state- status. As of 1990, 114 states had recognized the newly proclaimed State of Palestine, some 20 states more than the 93 that recog!.
nized Israel. So, did they have the capacity to enter into foreign relations, deffanantly. And for the permant government, yes and no. The P.L.O. made claim to the rule of the people and so did Israel. So that is the only questionable part of the requirements for statehood. .
So, did Palestine have a legitimate claim to statehood, yes. They were provisionally granted statehood by the League of Nations, and met all of the requirements.